By Simon Monk, Community Newswire
Radio 1 DJ Pete Tong is encouraging clubbers to get themselves tested for Hepatitis C.
The DJ is a founder member of the International Music Summit (IMS), which has teamed up with the Hepatitis C Trust to raise awareness about the disease.
The Get Tested! scheme aims to raise funds, increase awareness and encourage people to take a hepatitis C test. Clubbers are being targeted as the hedonistic lifestyle associated with clubbing can put many at risk of contracting the disease.
The initiative is asking people to travel from the UK to Ibiza between May 23 and 26, avoiding cars and planes to reduce their carbon footprint. They will be encouraged to use anything from bikes, boats and buses to scooters, trains and horses, and to log each stage for verification.
Prizes for those making the trip with the smallest carbon footprint include a dedicated month-long detox program from holistic guru Dr Nish Joshi.
Pete said: "IMS is very excited to team up with the Hepatitis C Trust. It's a very serious issue and the music industry should do everything it can to to educate its industry and the wider public at large.
"The trust has come up with a truly innovative way to interact with the IMS audience. I can't wait to see who will hang-glide to Ibiza from Barcelona."
Once in Ibiza travellers will be invited to the Get tested! event at El Hotel on Wednesday May 27.
David Enthoven from management company IE Music, whose clients include Robbie Williams, will talk about his personal experience of living with hepatitis C.
There will be an exclusive showing of a short film featuring two teenagers talking about their battle with the disease.
There will also be an auction featuring items such as Scissor Sisters star Anna Matronix's dress.
Gemma Peppe of the Hepatitis C Trust said: "We are simply trying to make people get tested. Many Hepatitis campaigns are quite accusatory but this is different.
"We want to raise awareness without pointing the finger.
"Research shows that the best demographic to target is aged between 20 to 50 years old who like to go out and have a good time. They are most at risk."
Hepatitis C is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV), and can be passed through piercing, tattoos, transfusions, razors or sharing toothbrushes.
Symptoms vary from general fatigue, to flu-like feelings through to digestive problems, joint pains, mood swings and depression. There is no vaccine against hepatitis C, but treatment can achieve a cure in over half of patients.
Patients can live for many years without experiencing symptoms, so many remain undiagnosed.
It is estimated there are as many as 466,000 people infected with the disease in the UK.
The Hepatitis C Trust is the national patient-run charity that provides a range of services offering support, information and representation for people with the disease. For more information, go to www.hepctrust.org.uk.
